Disclaimer: see prologue.

Chapter Four: "Just a Letter"

October 7th, 2021-

Ste buttered his toast as his best friend, Kris Potter, chatted animatedly about the Gryffindor team's prospects for winning the Quidditch Cup this year. He didn't say much, he hadn't been in a very talkative mood lately. He was just happy listening to Kris.

"Post is here," Kris observed as hundreds of owls swooped into the Great Hall. "Oh look, there's Mercury. Maybe he has a birthday card for you."

"But my birthday isn't for two more weeks," Ste objected. While he said this, a handsome, sleek, dark brown owl flew gracefully toward Ste and dropped a letter into his cereal bowl. "Lovely birthday present," he muttered sarcastically as he fished the letter out and attempted to dry it off. "Mercury, haven't I taught you that post and breakfast items don't mix?" Mercury hooted thoughtfully at this.

Mercury was Ste's owl. His older brother, Brynn, had given him to Ste the summer before he arrived as a first year at Hogwarts. Speaking of his brother, Ste recognized the handwriting on the front of the envelope that read "Stephen Weasley, Great Hall, Hogwarts School." He opened the envelope and read.

Dear Ste,

Happy early birthday! How are you? Is your sixth year going well? You should enjoy it, you know. You're going to miss it next year when you're taking those ruddy N.E.W.T.S. What a pain in the arse they were. But I'm getting off track.

This is going to sound a touch odd, but have you heard or seen anything out of the ordinary lately? Well, ha, besides Kris, I mean. And yes, I'm very well aware she's reading this over your shoulder as we speak—Hi Kris!

Ste looked up from the letter just in time to see Kris avert her gaze and suddenly become fascinated with her scrambled egg. He chuckled and continued to read.

I just want you, both of you—Kris isn't blood kin, but I feel like she is—to be very wary. And tell Connor that too! I know how much the three of you tend to attract trouble. And don't get me wrong, I'm not giving you some sermon about how you should straighten up and fly right or what have you; I just want you to be careful, you can't be too careful nowadays. And Ste, please don't think of me as some over-protective, thinks-he's-better, know-it-all, patronizing type of big brother; I'm just trying to look out for you. And if you see or hear anything that might be relevant to our current… situation, please tell either myself or the Order immediately. I realize that isn't how your mind works, that you'll want to do something yourself, but please, I beg you to do the smart thing. I know I'm not cool anymore and I've become some stuck-up tightwad, but it's worth it to keep you safe.

Your brother,

Brynn

Ste set the letter down on the table. Brynn was always trying to protect him, ever since he could remember. They had never really fought, there was such an age gap—seven years—that they didn't see much of each other often, so they got along very well, actually. He knew Brynn knew something. He wouldn't admit it if he asked, Ste knew, but he could tell that there was something going on. Was Voldemort about to strike? Or did the Order just suspect that and didn't want to get the word out that they thought something was coming? Did Brynn have some idea that contradicted Dumbledore's on what had become of Kali and Elita? Ste had no earthly clue. He looked at Kris and asked abruptly, "How's your dad?"

"My dad?" Kris repeated, confused. "Erm, fine the last I heard…" her beautiful green eyes suddenly grew wide in horror. "Was there something in that letter? I didn't finish it—"

"Oh no," Ste said, feeling guilty that he'd worried her. "It's just that Brynn's being so cryptic, and he usually tells me things… I think he knows something. Something important… something bad… I was wondering if your dad—"

Kris scoffed. "You've known my father for as long as I have, Ste, we're both very aware that he wouldn't alert me if the bloody Armageddon was upon us. He'd say, 'Oh, it's nothing Kris, I'll take care of it.'" Kris shook her head sadly. "I love my dad. I really do, I just wish he'd stop trying to protect me so damn much. Oh, we're getting off subject, aren't we?" she said, grinning apologetically. "Nah, he hasn't told me anything about anything out of the ordinary." She shrugged. "Don't get all worked up over it, Ste," she continued, apparently noticing the worry etched all over his face. She always knew exactly how he was feeling, and he loved her for it.

She punched him playfully on his arm, and he savored her touch, even if it was only for a fraction of a second. "You know, it's just a letter. Don't let it ruin today. Hogsmeade, remember? You promised me you'd buy me a Butterbeer." He smiled. How could he forget? And Kris was right. It was just a letter. Nothing to worry about. He had better things to think about anyway. Like spending an afternoon alone with Kris... that was surely enough to brighten his day.